Hungry in the hutch

EVEN AS Bangkok’s cat cafes continue to draw crowds eager to hobnob with the felines and enjoy a brew at the same time, Gullayanee Jiamsinkul is offering a new breed of dining experience – hanging out with furry bunnies.

She’s turned the first floor of her home on Lat Phrao Soi 101 into the Lucky Bunny Cafe where diners can eat, drink and enjoy the company of her pet rabbits. The bistro is predominantly decorated in white and every corner is decked out with decorative rabbit-shaped pillows, cushions, tissue boxes as well as ceramic and stuffed dolls. 

Gullayanee is also the brains behind the Liken brand, which offers a variety of gifts, home and garden accessories and decorative items, meaning that anything that takes a customer’s fancy can be ordered.

“The idea comes from my daughter who has just graduated and has spent time visiting several cat cafes around town. In Japan, the bunny cafe is now creating quite a stir and I’ve wanted to keep rabbits for years.

“However, I’d always hesitated as I was worried both about the mess and the smell. I finally found a rabbit farm owner and a veterinarian who gave me useful advice and discovered rabbits do not smell if they are properly raised. We started with six rabbits and learned how to raise them and we’re now confident that we can pass on our knowledge through the cafe,” she says.

In the interests of hygiene and proper pet care, restaurant and rabbits are kept separate and woe behold anyway who even thinks of breaking this strict rule. Visitors can enjoy food and drink either in the well-appointed dining area, which is fitted out with comfy sofas and wooden chairs, or outside at a stylish table surrounded by plants and trees trimmed into bunny shapes.

The rabbits are housed in a separate room, each with its own cage. No more than six visitors are allowed in the rabbit room at any one time and they may stay for just 20 minutes under the guidance of staff. It’s packed most weekends so expect a wait.

Each customer has to pay an entry fee of Bt150, though this can be used to buy food and drink. The menu is surprisingly extensive and includes vegetable and boiled egg salad (Bt99), spaghetti with sausage and dried chilli (Bt129), egg chiffon on rice (Bt99), stir-fried pork with herbs (Bt99), Thai-style salad with glass noodles and sausages (Bt119) and prawn tom yum (Bt159). For desserts, there’s a very good soft chocolate cake served with vanilla chocolate chip ice cream and whipping cream (Bt119) and strawberry waffle (Bt149). The drinks list features strawberry yoghurt smoothie (Bt119) and watermelon soda (Bt79). Free Wifi is also available.

Before entering the rabbit room, visitors should read and ensure they stick to the rules, which are designed to ensure the bunnies remain healthy. Hands must be washed and the young rabbits must not be handled unless specifically permitted. Feeding is forbidden and customers must not take food and beverages into the room.

So far, Gullayanee has 26 rabbits of different breeds, among them the teardrop-shaped ear Holland Lop, the babyish Netherland Dwarf, the Mini Rex that boasts smooth and springy fur and the attractively marked Dutch rabbit.

“Some people are annoyed by the rules but we must be certain our rabbits remain safe and healthy. We also have to show visitors how pick them up and handle them, because improper handling can easily cause serious injury. Pulling their ears as shown in cartoons and comics is strictly prohibited.”

A few of the small mammals have been trained to perform such tricks as jumping small fences, walking on two feet, pushing tiny shopping carts, jumping through a hoop and buzzing a bell. 

“If handled carefully, young bunnies can easily learn to trust. They love to sit on a person’s lap and snuggle. They can even be trained to recognise their home and come when called,” she adds. 

“A veterinarian comes to check-up our rabbits every Monday to make sure they remain healthy.”

Raising a rabbit is not hard if you have the right information, according to Gullayanee. 

Rabbits require a comfortable cage with room to move and a hanging water bottle to ensure they never run out of water. Hygiene rules have to be observed and carbon pellets should be put in the litter box to absorb odours. Give your rabbit grass hay consisting predominantly of timothy and alfalfa because hay provides lots of fibre to aid digestion and prevents dental problems. Food pellets should be limited to about two tablespoons daily and they are also excellent as a training treat.

Customers can purchase a rabbit as well as the rabbit-themed merchandise, which ranges from shopping bags, ceramic and stuffed dolls, tissue boxes to pillowcases and T-shirts. 

 

 

PAWS FOR THOUGHT

>>Lucky Bunny Cafe is on Lat Phrao Soi 101, Yaek 28. It’s open daily, except Monday, from 10.30am to 8pm. Call (085) 195 5465

>>Find out more at Facebook.com/pages/Lucky-Bunny-Cafe-Restaurant.